Fort Lee police cracking down on jaywalkers

FORT LEE ­— Police have been cracking down on jaywalkers, issuing $85 tickets to violators, in hopes of increasing pedestrian safety in the borough.

During a press conference Thursday morning, Police Chief Thomas Ripoli encouraged both pedestrians and motorists to be alert and obey the traffic laws.

Ripoli wrote a letter on March 1, which was posted on the Police Department’s website, saying that police officers would focus on motorists and pedestrians in the enforcement of traffic laws, specifically jaywalking. Flashing signs have also been placed around the borough encouraging motorists to slow down.

For two weeks, he said, officers handed out pamphlets with safety tips for pedestrians. Then, officers began writing jaywalking tickets, which carry an $85 fine.

Capt. Keith Bendul said Fort Lee police have stopped 575 jaywalkers since the beginning of the year, and that 117 tickets have been issued since mid-March.

Ripoli said there have been more than 20 pedestrians struck by vehicles this year including three fatalities, though one of those was a homicide. There were 74 accidents involving pedestrians last year resulting in two fatalities.

“It’s not always the driver’s fault,” he said. “Pedestrians are not always aware; they’re not watching where they are walking.”

On Feb. 29, Helen Norton, 63, of Fort Lee, was struck while crossing the street at Lemoine Avenue and Whiteman Street and died as a result of her injuries. The driver was not charged or cited.

The next morning, Fort Lee resident Mary Hickey, 86, was struck by a woman who was backing her vehicle out of her driveway. Hickey sustained leg and head injuries and the driver was not charged.

While Ripoli did not know if either of those women was on a cellphone when they were hit, he said technology has created an added distraction and pedestrians often do not hear a vehicle approaching or are not paying attention when they enter the roadway.

Ripoli defined jaywalking as entering the roadway in between crosswalks or intersections and walking in a crosswalk when the pedestrian does not have the right of way.

“We’re targeting people not crossing in the crosswalks and at intersection, and crossing against the light,” he said.

He said even students who cross in the middle of the road near schools could face fines.

The Community Policing Unit has met with senior citizen groups and students at the high school to distribute information on pedestrian safety.

Community Police Officer Mike Bialoblocki said students at Fort Lee High School have to be careful because the school is on Lemoine Avenue, which sees a lot of fast-moving traffic, particularly during morning rush hour when motorists use it as a cut-through to avoid congested highways.

“We want the students to be aware of their surroundings for their own safety,” he said.

Capt. Keith Bendul said the borough also targets motorists who do not stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, as required by law.

He said officers will wear civilian clothes and walk into a crosswalk to see if a car stops. If the vehicle doesn’t stop, another officer waiting nearby will issue a ticket.

“It’s all about trying to improve safety and make sure we reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities,” Bendul said.